Northwestern Theological Seminary, a part of Northwestern Schools, was founded in Minneapolis in 1935 by Dr. William Bell Riley, a noted fundamentalist leader. In the decade after Dr. Riley's passing, financial pressures forced Northwestern's Board of Trustees to close the seminary. Students, seminary faculty, and other supporters urged Dr. Richard V. Clearwaters, pastor of the Fourth Baptist Church of Minneapolis, to fill this vacuum in ministry through the establishment of a fundamental Baptist seminary.

Fundamental, Bible-believing churches, colleges, and mission agencies from across the United States and many foreign countries have acknowledged the spiritual, academic, and professional contribution that Central Baptist Theological Seminary has made to the fundamental, independent Baptist effort over the last 50+ years.

• Accreditation -- Central Baptist Theological Seminary of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a member of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) [P.O. Box 328, Forest, VA 24551; telephone: 434.525.9539; email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ] having been awarded Accredited status as a Category IV institution by the TRACS Accreditation Commission on November 4, 2008; this status is effective for a period of five years. TRACS is recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE), the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE).
• Membership -- American Association of Christian Colleges & Seminaries (AACCS).
• Approval - (1) U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) for Enrollment of Foreign Students, and (2) State and Federal Approving Agency for Veterans Benefits.
• Chartered -- By the State of Minnesota in 1956.